HHSAA PLANNED GIVING PROGRAM UPDATE

By Jon A. McLaughlin '73

For any philanthropic organization to truly be successful, it relies on planned gifts from its members to create an endowment that truly can work to sustain a level of annual funding without having to tap into the group’s principal investments. So it is with the Houlton High School Alumni Association.

As you know, it is the goal of the HHSAAto reach an endowment of $1,000,000 by 2010. Following is an update of this group’s progress towards reaching this goal.

When the AlumniAssociation was first formed, it started out raising funds basically for the creation of the newsletter and the funding process kept increasing as donations kept rolling in. This was supplemented by an Endowment Pledge drive almost 5 years ago. Once the drive was completed, the Association realized that there needed to be an organization found that could manage the funds for the group and maximize the return. After a thorough search was done, theAssociation settled on the Maine Community Foundation.

WHO IS THE MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?

The Maine Community Foundation serves thousands of people who share a common mission: improving the quality of life in our state.

Individuals, families, businesses and organizations create charitable funds that help Maine meet the challenges of changing times. Today, the foundation’s assets of $200 million are held in stewardship for more than 800 funds.

Maine Community Foundation grants cover the full range of nonprofit undertakings, with a special focus in the areas of education, the environment, arts and humanities, and social and community services.

Since opening its doors in 1983, the foundation has awarded more than $100 million in grants and scholarships.

With record gifts to the Maine Community Foundation of $36 million and a 14% return on its Primary Investment Portfolio, the foundations’s charitable assets increased to $245 million in 2007, a 23% increase over the previous year.

MCF awarded more than $16 million in grants and scholarships in 2007. It ranks among the top 10% of community foundations in the U.S. for total assets and gifts received.

HOW ARE THE FUNDS DOING?

The HHSAA presently has three funds that are administered by the Maine Community Foundation:

Houlton High School Alumni Association Fund

This fund supports Houlton High School with scholarship aid and support projects, programs and efforts at Houlton High School.

James F. McPartland Scholarship Fund

The James F. McPartland Scholarship Fund was establish in 2004 through gifts from the family of Mr. McPartland, a member of the Houlton High School Class of 1943, in celebration of his 80th birthday. This fund celebrates Mr. McPartland's generosity and appreciation for the value of a college education. Eligible applicants are graduating seniors at Houlton High School who are pursuing postsecondary studies at a two or four-year college.

Henry G. White, Elizabeth R. White, and Janet A. White Scholarship Fund

This fund was established through a bequest by Mr. White, a member of the Houlton High School Class of 1929, in loving memory of his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Janet. Elizabeth White taught home economics at Houlton High School for many years, and Janet White was a member of the Class of 1966. This fund provides sup port to deserving Houlton High School graduates for their postsecondary education and assists Houlton High School faculty in attending professional development programs. As of December 31, 2007, the HHSAAbalances for these funds were $721,011.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

While the Alumni Association is progressing nicely towards its goal of $1,000,000 by 2010, it will need the help of other alums like Mr. White who bequeathed almost $400,000 to the HHSAA in his will.

Planned Giving can take many forms. In addition to a simple bequest like Mr. White did, it can mean establishing a named scholarship like the McPartland family opted to do to honor their father on his birthday or charitable gift annuities, charitable unitrusts, use of IRAs, pension plans, other retirement fund assets and gifts of life estates.

The Houlton High School Alumni Association has created a color brochure outlining all of these potential avenues of Planned Giving and how they can benefit the alumna’s tax status. Like all investments, you need to check with your investment advisor prior to entering into any long-term relationship as programs and personal tax needs change over time.

This brochure has been sent to many alumni, but if you would like a copy to help with your decision making, please contact the association’s secretary at:

Mrs.: Patty Fitzpatrick, Secretary
Houlton High School Alumni Association
P.O. Box 990 Houlton, ME 04730
(207) 5389653 (H)
mslittleton@pioneercable.net

We sincerely hope that you will consider a pledge or gift to the Endowment Fund so we can continue to support quality education and scholarship programs at Houlton High School.